Hate me, Miss Witch!

"Moreover... what you're about to face is far from an ordinary Legendary."

"It's a Throne, one wielding the Sacred Sword."

Augutina's soft voice echoed in the silent garden of Millennium Castle, "Aren't you afraid of death?"

"Of course, I am," Shiayar answered without hesitation.

"But it's only natural for people to die when they're killed. If I didn't want to die, I wouldn't have chosen to return a thousand years in the first place. Besides..."

In Shiayar's eyes, the Runes of Jayee spun gently.

In his storage, now honed to the 'Extraordinary Sainthood' level of proficiency, a massive construct with a streamlined metal shell reflected a silvery-white light.

On its streamlined metal shell, a line of text was neatly etched in Chinese: *Tsar Bomba*.

Gazing at his fully stocked armory and rereading the sole optimal route—confirmed by Jayee through the Soul Pact after millions of simulations and selections—a faint smile touched Shiayar's lips.

"Besides, even without an undying body... I've never felt like I would lose. I think, if the total odds were one hundred percent, then the chances of victory for Crimson Moon and Her Royal Highness the Princess wouldn't exceed fifty percent."

His gaze turned to the eerie Blood Moon.

Despite his far from robust physique, Augutina distinctly felt an aura, no less powerful than her own, erupting from Shiayar.

"It's time for the legend of the Knight King to end."

...

"I need some time to complete preparations and deployment."

"Then, Your Majesty, the Queen of the Night. Seven days from now, I'll see you in Camelot."

Shiayar waved casually at Augutina. Then, he rose and started walking out of Millennium Castle.

Watching the receding figure of the young man, a faint flicker shimmered in Augutina's beautiful eyes.

That was the mindset of someone certain of victory. And also, the conviction of someone prepared to die. This overwhelming confidence and conviction... slowly merged with a figure in her memory, becoming indistinguishable.

She shook her head slightly, then, looking towards the increasingly distant Shiayar, she spoke softly, "To go to such lengths for that girl, Isadella? But if that's the case, then what am I to you?"

Shiayar's steps paused.

He wasn't oblivious to the implication in Augutina's words. In fact, ever since the incident with Silvia, Shiayar had become extremely sensitive to these matters. Strange women appearing and showing particular fondness and preference for him... it was just like the situation with Silvia.

Combined with what Augutina had previously mentioned about an 'untwisted, correct history'...

Thinking about it, he could guess what it was... it was likely nothing more than them fighting side-by-side against Crimson Moon, which then triggered his 'Charming Beauty EX' trait, or something similar.

But Shiayar didn't turn back.

"How should I put this..."

"I don't know what exactly happened in the correct history of your memories, Her Highness Augustina, that has caused you to develop such favoritism towards me. But that is something I, in my current state, have not experienced..."

Shiayar knew very well what it signified for a Throne, the master of the Dark Shadow Council since the Second Era, to show him favor. He only needed to act a little more ambiguously, and it would mean a new, smooth path paved with favors and an endless life of ease.

However, the 'correct history' Augutina described—be it a past life or another possibility—was something he, in his current existence, had never experienced. Since he held no romantic feelings for the Queen of the Night standing before him, he couldn't meet her expectations. He wasn't willing to leave even the slightest room for ambiguity.

He was indeed prone to developing feelings easily, but to act on this without genuine emotion wouldn't be mere fickleness; it would be scummy.

Shiayar had chosen to accept Silvia's feelings and even confess not because she was the White Tower Master or a Throne. It was simply because, during their time in the Echo of History of the Ancient Dukedom Azure Garden, he had genuinely grown to like her. That was all.

"It's my honor to become your Contractor and collaborator, Her Highness Augustina. Therefore, for now, I see you as a good friend and ally, or perhaps, a business partner. That's all."

With that said, his figure rapidly dwindled and vanished at the far end of Millennium Castle.

...

Given how things are going, am I destined to be the loser in love?

Watching Shiayar's retreating figure, Augutina felt a slight daze come over her. However, her expression didn't truly show the regret of 'becoming a loser in love.' Quite the opposite, a curve played on Augutina's delicate, snow-like pretty face.

Then again, if he had really strung me along with the detached air of an indifferent scoundrel, feigning feelings he didn't have... then he wouldn't be the Shiayar I knew, the one to whom I was loyal.

A flicker of reminiscence suddenly appeared in Augutina's eyes, and she drifted into a daze.

So perceptive yet so confident, never wavering once he'd set his mind on something. The very antithesis of 'thickheaded,' the polar opposite of 'Gentle.' This is the Shiayar I remember...

After a long moment, she finally emerged from her reverie, a faint smile gracing her lips.

However... you've still been tricked by me.

Augutina extended a slender, fair finger and tapped lightly in the air.

Most of her conversation with Shiayar had been truthful. She had only concealed two points. Their equal pact wasn't due to the vampiric first embrace, plotted by the Crimson Moon. And the fondness and affection she held for Shiayar... they didn't stem from this history at the close of the Third Era in Escarnia.

Rather, they originated much, much earlier. It was a time before the Black Tower was established, before the divine war between the Abyss and the Main Material Plane had erupted. The troublesome Knowledge Holy Chalice then existed only as a concept, a hypothesis among the Great Arcanists. In those days, Augutina wasn't called Augutina. She was merely a newly hatched being, naively gazing upon the first living creature she ever saw in this world.

A breeze stirred through Millennium Castle. The shadows and darkness that had perpetually shrouded Augutina now quietly receded, revealing her true face, which had been hidden and difficult to discern beneath a hazy veil of night.

Red Gold vertical pupils. And amidst her jet-black hair, faintly discernible horns.

Unlike the vibrant pink horns of a Succubus, the horns on Augutina's forehead, while not particularly menacing, possessed a dignified curve.

Outsiders often considered the Blood Tribe an independent Race.

But as the first True Ancestor, before being chosen as a vessel by the Crimson Red Moon, Augutina had belonged to another Race...

You yourself said back then that you wanted to be a Dragon Knight. Heh, a loser in love? How could I possibly lose?